The Cheapskate

The $20 802.11n router: You're not likely to find a lower price.

(Credit: Netgear)

If your wireless router doesn't have the muscle to reach all corners of the house, or you need a faster connection for copying files and streaming videos, it might be time to consider an upgrade.

Newegg has refurbished Netgear WNR2000 802.11n Draft 2.0 routers for $19.99 (shipping will run you a mere $1.99).

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the "new" Wi-Fi protocol (which seems forever destined to be known as Draft-N) delivers better range and faster throughput speeds than 802.11g.

The WNR2000 is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two internal antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Keep in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router--but you'll still enjoy better range and, based on my experiences, faster wireless connections, even if you have 802.11b/g gear. (Make sure to download the latest firmware updates from Netgear.)

CNET hasn't reviewed the WNR2000, but the user comments on Newegg's product page are mostly positive. And over at Amazon, it averages four stars out of five. That's pretty impressive, as even high-end routers often get crummy reviews.

The WNR2000 has a list price of $79.99, so you're saving quite a bit by opting for a refurbished unit. It does have only a 90-day warranty, but what is there to break? Either it works or it doesn't. I think it's a steal, and at this price, I suspect they won't last.

A Draft-N router for only $25? That's a rare find indeed.

(Credit: Netgear)

If your wireless router doesn't have the muscle to reach all corners of the house, or you need faster throughput for copying files and streaming videos, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Newegg has refurbished Netgear WNR2000 802.11n Draft 2.0 routers for $24.99. Use coupon code SHIPNETGEAR to get free shipping.

For those unfamiliar with it, the "new" 802.11 Wi-Fi standard (which seems forever destined to be known as Draft-N) promises better range and faster throughput. The WNR2000 is backward-compatible with older 802.11 hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two internal antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Keep in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router--but you'll still enjoy better range and, I suspect, faster wireless connections, even if you have 802.11b or g hardware.

CNET hasn't reviewed the WNR2000, but over at Amazon it averages four stars out of five. That's pretty impressive, as even high-end routers often get crummy reviews.

The WNR2000 has a list price of $79.99, so you're saving quite a bit by opting for a refurb. It does have only a 90-day warranty, but what is there to break? Either it works or it doesn't. Personally, I think it's a steal. And at this price, I guarantee they won't last.

The Easy-N-Upgrader brings Draft-N performance to your home network.

(Credit: TrendNet)

A while ago, I replaced my 802.11g router with an 802.11n model. Much as I love the faster performance and better range, it saddens me that the old router is collecting dust on a shelf. (Yes, I'm easily saddened.)

To avoid consigning your own router to the same fate, consider an inexpensive upgrade instead of a pricey replacement. Newegg has the Trendnet Easy-N-Upgrader TEW-637AP for just $24.99 shipped.

Designed to piggyback on an existing router, the Easy-N-Upgrader bumps your network's Wi-Fi performance to Draft-N levels (up to 12 times faster than 802.11g, according to Trendnet). It also promises better range, meaning that it may help overcome Wi-Fi "dead spots" in your house.

CNET hasn't covered the Easy-N-Upgrader, but you'll definitely want to read Maximum PC's review. It's quite positive overall (as are the user reviews on Newegg), citing mediocre range as the only real shortcoming.

These are new units, not refurbs, and you don't have to deal with any rebates. If you've been pining for 802.11n performance but didn't want to spend upwards of $100 or more on a new router, this looks to be a terrific solution.

(Credit: TRENDnet)

If your home network can't quite reach all corners or you need faster throughput for file copying or video streaming, it might be time to consider a router upgrade. Buy.com has the TRENDnet TEW-632BRP Wireless N Home Router on sale for $28.99 shipped (after a $15 mail-in rebate).

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the new 802.11 Wi-Fi standard (currently known as Draft-N) promises better range and faster throughput. The TEW-632BRP is backwards-compatible with older 802.11 hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two external antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Bear in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router. What's more, the user reviews I've seen for the TEW-632BRP (starting with these at CNET) are all over the place, with some finding it "spectacular" and others "abysmal." The router itself has a three-year warranty, but Buy.com's return policy is just 14 days from the date of shipment--so you won't have much time to put the hardware through its paces.

Hey, I never said being a cheapskate was easy. If you want to save money, sometimes you gotta roll the dice. Most Draft-N routers start at around $100, so this is definitely a major savings. If you've had any experience with this particular model, hit the Comments and share your findings.

(Credit: Netgear)

If you've been itching to hop on the 802.11n bandwagon but discouraged by the high prices of the routers, CompUSA has a sweet deal: A refurbished Netgear WNR834B Wireless N Router for $29.99 (plus shipping).

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the new 802.11 Wi-Fi standard (currently known as Draft-N) promises better range and faster throughput. The WNR834B is backwards-compatible with older 802.11 hardware. It comes with five Ethernet ports, three internal antennas, built-in quality-of-service (QoS) features, and, because it's a refurb, a measly 30-day warranty.

CNET gave the router a reasonably good review, though it was nearly two years ago, and Netgear has released several firmware updates since then. If you decide to pick up a WNR834B, make sure you grab the latest firmware.

Given that most Draft-N routers sell for at least $60-70 at the moment (Amazon sells this model for $99 new), I don't expect these to last long. Get one while you can!

(Credit: TrendNet)

This post is brought to you by the letter G--as in 802.11g. No broadband-infused home is complete without a router, which lets Wi-Fi-equipped notebooks, cell phones, Zune players, and the like roam free within the walls. Now's your chance to scoop up a TrendNet 802.11g router for just 5 bucks (after $35' worth of mail-in rebates).

Granted, TrendNet's not exactly a household name, but the router appears to have all the prerequisite features and security goodness: four wired LAN ports, virtual server support, 64/128-bit WEP WPA/WPA2 encryption, and so on. And it scored 4.1 stars (out of 5) from a whopping 787 users, so it's pretty likely to satisfy your Wi-Fi needs. Alas, you've gotta send in a pair of rebate forms, but it's well worth the effort to get that Ethernet cord cut once and for all. The offer expires Dec. 8.Thanks to my brother-in-law Steve for sending in this Cheapskate-worthy deal!